Why have a State Policy Report Card?

StudentsFirst created the State Policy Report Card (SPRC) to raise awareness about the education policies in each state and the need for change to more student-centered policies. With the Report Card, we can assess whether a state's policy environment supports an education system that meets the needs of every child and prepares them for life-long success.

How are the states graded?

To grade each state, StudentsFirst designed a rubric for each of the 24 policy objectives in the Report Card. We analyzed and scored each state's policies using a 0 to 4 scale, with 4 representing the strongest lever for reform. Of the 24 policies, 12 are considered to be anchor policies and therefore receive a higher weight in terms of scoring. After scoring each objective, grade point averages (GPAs) were calculated for each state.

Get involved

There is a lot you can do to help improve the public education system in your community. Start by using the StudentsFirst SPRC to look up your state's education laws and policies and see how your state is doing. As you learn more, reach out to leaders in your community, such as school board members, elected officials, or advocacy groups like StudentsFirst. Ask questions and start advocating for the changes you want to see in your schools now.